Students learn about stress and strain by designing and building beams using …
Students learn about stress and strain by designing and building beams using polymer clay. They compete to find the best beam strength to beam weight ratio, and learn about the trade-offs engineers make when designing a structure.
In this math activity, students conduct a strength test using modeling clay, …
In this math activity, students conduct a strength test using modeling clay, creating their own stress vs. strain graphs, which they compare to typical steel and concrete graphs. They learn the difference between brittle and ductile materials and how understanding the strength of materials, especially steel and concrete, is important for engineers who design bridges and structures.
Students explore how tension and compression forces act on three different bridge …
Students explore how tension and compression forces act on three different bridge types. Using sponges, cardboard and string, they create models of beam, arch and suspension bridges and apply forces to understand how they disperse or transfer these loads.
Through a five-lesson series that includes numerous hands-on activities, students are introduced …
Through a five-lesson series that includes numerous hands-on activities, students are introduced to the importance and pervasiveness of bridges for connecting people to resources, places and other people, with references to many historical and current-day examples. In learning about bridge types arch, beam, truss and suspension students explore the effect of tensile and compressive forces. Students investigate the calculations that go into designing bridges; they learn about loads and cross-sectional areas by designing and testing the strength of model piers. Geology and soils are explored as they discover the importance of foundations, bearing pressure and settlement considerations in the creation of dependable bridges and structures. Students learn about brittle and ductile material properties. Students also learn about the many cost factors that comprise the economic considerations of bridge building. Bridges are unique challenges that take advantage of the creative nature of engineering.
Students are presented with a brief history of bridges as they learn …
Students are presented with a brief history of bridges as they learn about the three main bridge types: beam, arch and suspension. They are introduced to two natural forces tension and compression common to all bridges and structures. Throughout history, and today, bridges are important for connecting people to resources, places and other people. Students become more aware of the variety and value of bridges around us in our everyday lives.
Here is a wonderful step by step training of brow mapping, done …
Here is a wonderful step by step training of brow mapping, done by one of our lovely UK trainers.
Brow mapping is an extremely important part of the brow shaping process. This allows you to perfectly define where your brow should start and end, based on your own facial symmetry. Likewise, when properly shaped, brows provide symmetry for every face also. Brow mapping allows your nose to appear slimmer and your eyes and facial features become more balanced. Don't forget that proportion is everything--brow mapping almost always improves your entire look!
Students construct bird nests and birdhouses. They research birds of their choosing …
Students construct bird nests and birdhouses. They research birds of their choosing and then design houses that meet the birds' specific needs. It works well to conduct this activity in conjunction with a grades 9-12 woodshop class by partnering the older students with the younger students (but it is not required to do this in order to conduct the activity).
Students identify different bridge designs and construction materials used in modern day …
Students identify different bridge designs and construction materials used in modern day engineering. They work in construction teams to create paper bridges and spaghetti bridges based on existing bridge designs. Students progressively realize the importance of the structural elements in each bridge. They also measure vertical displacements under the center of the spaghetti bridge span when a load is applied. Vertical deflection is measured using a LEGO MINDSTORMS(TM) NXT intelligent brick and ultrasonic sensor. As they work, students experience tension and compression forces acting on structural elements of the two bridge prototypes. In conclusion, students discuss the material properties of paper and spaghetti and compare bridge designs with performance outcomes.
Students learn how to build simple piezoelectric generators to power LEDs. To …
Students learn how to build simple piezoelectric generators to power LEDs. To do this, they incorporate into a circuit a piezoelectric element that converts movements they make (mechanical energy) into electrical energy, which is stored in a capacitor (short-term battery). Once enough energy is stored, they flip a switch to light up an LED. Students also learn how much (surprisingly little) energy can be converted using the current state of technology for piezoelectric materials.
Students create and analyze composite materials with the intent of using the …
Students create and analyze composite materials with the intent of using the materials to construct a structure with optimal strength and minimal density. The composite materials are made of puffed rice cereal, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Student teams vary the concentrations of the three components to create their composite materials. They determine the material density and test its compressive strength by placing weights on it and measuring how much the material compresses. Students graph stress vs. strain and determine Young's modulus to analyze the strength of their materials.
Students gain awareness of shapes in architecture by creating a painting of …
Students gain awareness of shapes in architecture by creating a painting of their school and writing a reflective summary of their study of architecture.
Everyday we are surrounded by circuits that use "in parallel" and "in …
Everyday we are surrounded by circuits that use "in parallel" and "in series" circuitry. Complicated circuits designed by engineers are composed of many simpler parallel and series circuits. During this activity, students build a simple series circuit and discover the properties associated with series circuits.
Athletes often wear protective gear to keep themselves safe in contact sports. …
Athletes often wear protective gear to keep themselves safe in contact sports. In this spirit, students follow the steps of engineering design process as they design, build and test protective padding for an egg drop. Many of the design considerations surrounding egg drops are similar to sports equipment design. Watching the transformation of energy from potential to kinetic, observing the impact and working under material constraints introduces students to "sports engineering" and gives them a chance to experience some of the challenges engineers face in designing equipment to protect athletes.
This textbook and its accompanying spreadsheet templates were designed with and for …
This textbook and its accompanying spreadsheet templates were designed with and for students wanting a practical and easy-to-follow guide for developing a business plan. It follows a unique format that both explains what to do and demonstrates how to do it.
Health product availability, importation, counterfeiting, prescription drug disposal, off-label veterinary drug use, …
Health product availability, importation, counterfeiting, prescription drug disposal, off-label veterinary drug use, buying drugs online and antibiotic resistance.
Our approach to civic education is about providing opportunities for students to …
Our approach to civic education is about providing opportunities for students to experience their democracy first-hand rather than by reading about it in a textbook. By reaching students throughout their school career, during and between election periods, we hope to prepare them to be responsible and informed citizens.
CIVIX programming focuses on the themes of elections, government budgets, elected representatives and digital media literacy. Programs available include:
(1) Student Vote - an election enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom
(3) Rep Day - connects students with their elected representatives for a virtual or in-person meeting
(4) CTRL-F - a module providing quick strategies students can use to investigate and evaluate information
(5) PoliTalks - supports educators in bringing political discussions to the classroom - Materials are free with registration, and programming is designed for grades 5-12
(6) Democracy Bootcamp - professional development conference for teachers designed to improve their democratic engagement and delivery of CIVIX programming
CK-12 Physical Science for Middle School FlexBook® covers core physical science concepts …
CK-12 Physical Science for Middle School FlexBook® covers core physical science concepts and includes SIMs, PLIX, real world examples, and videos.
This is an extremely comprehensive unit on Physical Science (covering the Electricity outcomes for Grade 6). Some of the chapters are not aligned directly with grade 6 outcomes, but have the potential to be used for enrichment activities. In addition to what is listed above, this resource also includes online practice quizzes for students. Teachers can download printable versions of the quizzes, along with an answer key.
*You will have to sign up to ck12.org to access everything, but it is completely free!
No restrictions on your remixing, redistributing, or making derivative works. Give credit to the author, as required.
Your remixing, redistributing, or making derivatives works comes with some restrictions, including how it is shared.
Your redistributing comes with some restrictions. Do not remix or make derivative works.
Most restrictive license type. Prohibits most uses, sharing, and any changes.
Copyrighted materials, available under Fair Use and the TEACH Act for US-based educators, or other custom arrangements. Go to the resource provider to see their individual restrictions.
